Electropneumatic brake



Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,563

u. A. WHITAKER ELECTROPNEUMATIC BRAKE Filed April 11, 1927 /Ill 111111111 7 '(llll INVENTORI UNCAS AWHITAKER ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 2 1, 1928.

UNITED STATES".

UNCAS A; WHITAKER, 0F WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WEST INGHOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OF WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A GOR- IPORA'IION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

nnncrnornnumarrc BRAKE.

Application filed April 11, 192?. Seria1 No."18 2,746.

This invention relates to eleetro-pneumatic brakes and has for its principal object to pro vide an improved electro-pneumatic brake in which an emergency application of the brakes may be eliected electro-pneumatically.

In the accompanying drawing, the single figure is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, of an electro-pneumatic brake equlpe;

'ment embodying my'invention. v In the drawlng, the GlGClJIQ-PIIGHIDSLUC brake apparatus is shown associated with a fluid pressure brake equipment comprisinga brake cylinder 1, a triple valve device 2, an

auxiliary reservoir 3, and a brake pipe 1, all of the usual COIiStlllGtiOIlif The electro-pneumaticgcontrol portion comprises a magnet controlled valve device including an electro-magnet 5 havmg a coil 6 and solenoid armatures"? and 8 forming thecor'e of the magnet. The armature is associated with a flexible diaphragm 9 having chamber lOat one side open to the atmosphere through port 11, and chamber 12 at theop V posite side connected to a pipe 13 leading to a double check valve device 14.

The diaphragm 9 is clamped between the armature 7 and a head 15, said head having a central passage 16 leading to a passage 17 in the armature 7 which'opens to chamber 10; Communication from chamber 12 to chamber 10 through passage 16 is controlled by a release valve 18, and in axial alinement with said valve'is a supply valve 19 contained in valve chamber20, the valve19 controlling communication from chamber 20, which is connected by pipe 21 to the auxiliary "reser-i voir 3, to chamber 12. p V I The stem 22 of valve 19 carries'a pin 23 en-v gaging in an elongated $1012.24; offan extension carried by the valve 18, and valve 19 is subject to the pressure of a spring 25. A rod 26 extends through acentral bore of thearmature 8 and engages in a central recess ofthearmature 7 and said rod s provided near its lower end with a collar 27 which is engaged by-a spring 28. p

At the lower end, the armatureS is provided with'a flange 29, and'coil springs 30, disposed in recesses in the magnet casing, en 7 gage said flange.

Disposed in a cap plate 81, applied to mag- I net 5 is a valve 32 adapted to be engaged by the flange 29 upon downwardmovement of the armature 8, and said valve. controls the venting of fluid underpressure from. an emergency relay valve device 33' to chamber 34:

'which' is open, to the atmosphere through a port 35. J i i The relay valve device 33 comprises a cas mg containing a valve piston 86 subject on one side to the pressure of a coil spring 37 and provided'with arestricted equalizing port A supplemental reservoir 41 is provided, which is adapted to be, charged with fluid under pressure from the brake pipe 1 through and the reservoir 411 is connected through plpe 39 with the space at the outer seated area i of valve piston 36. Thespace at'the inner to pipe 44:, leading to the brake cylinder 1.

When the reservoir 11 is charged with fluid a restricted port 42 and past a check valve 43,

seated area of 'thevalve piston is connectedunder pressure, fluid flows to therelay valve device through pipe 39 and thencethrough' therestric'ted port 38 to the spring'side of the valve piston. The fluid pressuresbeing equalized on opposite sides of the valvepiston,- the spring 37 maintains same seated; The magnet 5' is preferably'controlled in a manner similar to thatd-isclosed in a prior 1 pending application of T. H.'Thom as, Serial No. 158,935,fi1ed-January 4:,1927, and the magnet coil Gis such that at a predetermined current flow, the armature? will be moved downwardly by'the force of the magnet, so as to compress the spring 28an'd thuscause the seat of valve18 to move away from the valve. The brake cylinder 1 will then be open to the atmosphere by way of, pipe 44,-double check valve device 14, pipe 13 and chamberl2, and

port'll.

If it is desired-to apply the brake's,the current flow to the magnet '5 is reduced a certain thence past the open valve'18 to exhaustamount and'this permits the spring 28 to move the armature 7 ,through stem 26, in an upward direction, so that the valve 18 is first 4 caused to seat and then upon a furthermovement,,the 1ost motion between thevalve 18 net: ,;5; forms inorspartp of myinvention itis not deemed'necessary to show such means.

According to myyinvent on,means are pro- 1 the spring side of the relayavalve piston, 36,-

and the stem 22 is taken up, and finally the further movement causes the opening of the V supply valve 19.

Fluid under pressure is then supplied. from the auxiliary reservoir, 3, through pipe 21and v past the valve 19 to chamber 12, :thence through pipe 13, past the double check valve device 14 to the brake cylinder 11' I 'lVh'Cn the pressure in'the brake-cylinder and in chamber 12 has beenincreased to a certain degree, the upward pressure of the, armature 7 is overcome by the'pressure'in chamber 12 acting on thediaphragmfi; and.

said diaphragm then moves downwardly untilthevalve'wis brought to its seat,v Fur-.-

therifioiv ofifluid from theiauxiliary IGSGLVOID to the brake cylinder-is thenicu-t, oft,

If it is desired to increase the pressure in the1 :brake, cylinder, the current. flow .-.to the. magnetfi is further reduced, and ithe'opulling' force" ofthe magnet' 5- is further, reduced; so that the spring 28' acts to again moveathe,

armature? upwardly to cause; the un seating ofvalve l9; I a

.The brakes iarere-leased by increasingfthe current. flow to thedegree at whichithe arma ture 7 is moved downwardly to permit t-hev valveElS to become; nnsea-ted;

Asso't'ar described, the: operation is quite 1 sim lanto thatzo'f the constructiondescribed;

in the pending applicationof -T./I I. Thomas, herein-before referred to, and i as the means for var-yin g; the current flow throughtheunage vided for effecting a high pressure emergency application of the; brakes @When the current flow througlrthe electro-magnet 5 :1S reduced toga low degree or: there is no current flowing,

through the magnet; I

Normally, with the current certain-low degree,--the pull of the magnet-5 on the armatureaS is sufficient to cause the compression of: the :springsBO, so; thatlthe, armature is maintained in the ,posrtionshown in ,the v drawing. .lVhen the current flow is sutflciently: reduced or there is *no current flowing, the armatureS Willbemoved downs.

ardlyby :the springs 80, so that the flange:

294Wlll enga-gethe stem of the valve 32 and will operatetoopen the valve. I

Fluid; under pressure is then vented from sothat the fluid pressure iactingi on the outer seati-zd v area of said, piston causes outward movement of the valve piston, and thereby communication is openedfrom pipe 39 ,and the supplemental; reservoiraali to the brake cylinder-1.11? luid underpressure is thus supplied froinsaid reservoir toathe vbrake cyl inde'r. I l I r At/c-he same time, the service [portion of .v the device operates as service applica-.

tion of the brakes to open the valve 19, and

vbination;with electro-responsive means oper- 1. In a'n el' ctro pneumatic.bralre'athe comat'edupon a 'gradual reduction in current floiwyfor etl'ecting a service application of the brakes, urinates operated by said electroresponsive meansaupon a .iallure of current for-eifect-ingan emergency' application of the brakes;

2. :In, an ielectro p'neumatic brake, the com atedasthe current flow is reduced for efi'ectfinga service" applicationot the hrake's in bination withelectrore sponsive means 'o per-' proportion t0 the reduction in curr ent"flow, a

of means for effecting, anemergency a pplie' cation of the brakes, and aspring for operat ing said'means land released by said electror-esponsivdmeansonly upon a reductmn'iini current'floiv to a low degree for ellecting an emergency applicationof the brakes.

3 In an electro-pneumatiebrake, the c0mbination With a brake cylinder, of valve ,means. for controlling the' supply of fluid under pressure: to thebrake cylinder, an eleo ti'o-magnetehavinga solenoid core'for operatmg sa d valve. means,add1t1fonal valve means for, also supply ng fiuld' under pressureto the brake{cylinder-, v and an additional solenoid P core operatedxbyis'aid magnet for effecting the operationofisaid" additionallvalvemeansi 4c. In an; electro pneumatic brake, the com bination witha brake cylinder, of valve means for controlling the admission and'release of fluid underpressu're to and from the brakelicylinder, an electro-magnet having a solenoid core, forjopera tlng 831d valvenieans" andsub ectto' the pressure of a springtend ing to operate .sa'id'solenoid and valvemeans to sup, )l-y fluid to' the bi'akeiicylinder and to the pu lIoifI said magnet te'nding; to release fluid,- iroi n .the brake cylinder, additional valve means-for controllingthe supply of fluid underpressure to the br alielcylinder, and an additional solenoid core for said mag net subject to the 'pressure of agspring for effecting-theoperation of j 'said additional-- valve means upon iredu'cti onin current flotv through said magnetflto a low degree:

5. In an electroqjneumaticbrake, the com bination with a brake cylinder, of a source offluid undervpr'essure, valvemeans for c'ontrol ling the supply of fluid underf PIGSSUlGTfIOm' said source, to the brake,cylinder,;an addi-fi tiona'l source of fluid under pressure, 'addi tionalvalve meanstoncontrolling thesupply'," of fluid under pressure from'said additional source to the brake cylinder, andan-electro-n magnet having two solenoid cores, one for operating each of said valve means.

6. In an electro-pneu'matic brake, electroresponsive means for controlling the brakes '8 comprising an electro-magnet having two armatures, valves controlled by one armature for controlling the application and release of the brakes, and valve means controlled by the other armature for efi'eoting an emer gency application of the brakes.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

UNCAS A. WHITAKER. 

